During the 1920s and 30s there was intense international competition to achieve an ever higher world speed record on either a motor racetrack or water.
Kaye Ernest Donsky (1891-1981) known as Kaye Don was a key player during the period racing regularly at Brooklands and breaking a number of world records.
The water speed record challenges were no less competitive. The American businessman and racing driver Gar Wood drove the water speed record up to just 97 mph during the late 20's.
Lord Wakefield, Chairman of Castrol Oil took up the challenge to achieve a British holder. On Lake Windermere, Sir Henry Seagrave raised the bar to 98 mph but suffered a fatal crash on his final run. The boat, Miss England 11 was salvaged and Kaye Don alternately with Gar Wood nudged up the record higher stlll.
On Lake Garda in 1931 Kay Don beat Gar Wood's 102 mph record with a speed of 110 mph. This is the subject of this painting.

Roy Nockolds was a famed painter of the motor racing scene at the time. He painted a number of Kaye Don's motor racing triumphs at Brooklands for Don, and they became close friends. This work must be part of the record of Don's victories.